Chapter 29
Anakin walked over to the armory tent and began stocking up on grenades and power-packs, Part of this didn't seem right. He was a Jedi Knight, yet he was dressed in a black combat suit and light ceramic body armor. He was wearing no less than four blaster pistols, a silenced AP projectile pistol, and one rifle was slung over his back, as well as ammunition for all of these weapons. The HUD on his helmet's visor was linked to a short range motion sensor, and could be linked to his rifle's scope at the touch of a button. He was more commando now than Jedi, it seemed.
"Thanks for your help out there, Captain Solo," said a voice from behind him. Anakin turned. It was the Sergeant from the bunker, holding a bacta patch to his shoulder. "I just wanted to let you know that you and your squadmates saved my life, and Private Zanzi's. If you ever need anything while you're based on Borleias, should we win this battle that is, never hesitate to ask. Sergeant First Class Akao Venchain, at your service."
"I appreciate the offer Sergeant, and if I ver need something while I'm on base, I'll come to you. Thanks."
"Good luck, Cap'n. Stay alive."
Easier said than done, he thought as Sergeant Venchain strode off in the direction of the medical tent, most likely to get his bandage changed.
Anakin's thoughts were interrupted again when someone grabbed him from behind. He didn't have any time to react before Tahiri was kissing him. She pulled back after moment and stared straight into his eyes.
"I love you too. Stay safe." She grinned. The CSA must've left out the instincts for talking to girls. Reading his mind, she said, "Amazing how you can be so cold and decisive in battle, but you still can't talk to girls."
He grinned and shrugged. "The main problem with being at war for most of my adult life. I never had time to learn."
She kissed him on the cheek and said, "Kell's looking for you. Go, and stay alive. I don't want a repeat of last time right?"
Anakin nodded and promised, "I will." Then she pushed him away and walked off. Anakin went back to the command bunker, where the rest of the Wraiths were waiting.
"Good. Solo, you're here," Face said as he activated a holo-map. "Our mission is to steal a shuttle from the CSA base camp approximately six hundred klicks to the east. Which is here. We've got swoops for transportation. We hit fast, and stealthily. Suppressed weapons during the theft. We want this to stay quiet. From now on, use call signs only. Skywalker, for this op, you've been designated 'Thirteen.' Move out."
Everywhere around the clearing, soldiers began to cheer when they saw the Wraiths go by. The Wraiths' armor was more high tech than regular soldiers, and they were seen as the elites who would win this battle. If most of them knew what we were setting out to do, thought Anakin Skywalker, they would be admitting us into a mental ward.
The Wraiths boarded the special swoops they had brought off the Night Caller. The swoops had had their engines silenced, but still retained almost all of their speed. They sped off amid the cheering and clapping, setting out to save Borleias, and maybe whole the Jedi Order.